Fourth Person Arrested In Sex Trafficking Investigation
MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Police have arrested another suspect in connection to the sex trafficking investigation of a 13-year-old who was allegedly forced to prostitute herself and work as an exotic dancer in a Miami Beach exotic dance club.
Police arrested Audelin Pierre, 34, on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in the sex trafficking of the teen. He is charged with Human trafficking, procuring a person under 18 for prostitution, contributing to delinquency/dependency of a child among other charges.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle told CBS4's Gary Nelson, Pierre was "the recruiter" in the sex trafficking ring. He is facing up to life in prison.
"At the same time we have a very delicate, traumatized victim on our hands," Rundle said, adding that multiple agencies are working to address the girl's needs.
Earlier this month, City of Miami Police in conjunction with Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office arrested three people accused of forcing the 13-year-old girl to prostitute herself and dance in the club.
According to police, Vilbert Jean,36, Marlene San Vincente, 22, and DeWayne Ward, 18 were arrested on January 6th.
The 13-year-old had runaway from her home on December 10th. Her mother located her on January 6th in the area of North Miami Avenue and NE 55 street.
Police said, while she was being held against her will, she had been forced to prostitute herself for the benefit of her alleged exploiters.
On one occasion she was forced to have sex with someone for $80.00, according to the arrest report.
Between December 13 and January 4th, she was forced to dance as an exotic nude dancer at Club Madonna in Miami Beach when she refused to engage in prostitution. While dancing , police said she earned over $1,000 which she had to surrender to her alleged exploiters.
Club Madonna had to be closed after Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales temporarily stripped Club Madonna of its license last week after accusations were made that the 13-year old girl worked there. Attorneys for the club have since filed an emergency injunction asking that it be allowed to re-open.
While the girl worked at the club, San Vicente allegedly supervised and tutored her on how to work the nude club scene and how to maximize her tip earnings for the benefit of her alleged exploiters.
According to police, she was forced to have sex with Ward on more than six occasions.
The three also allegedly provided her with alcohol and large amounts of marijuana while she was under their control.
While being held captive, her alleged exploiters showed her an AK47 assault rifle and a 40 caliber handgun. She was also threatened with bodily harm if she tried to escape, according to the report.
Jean, San Vicente and Ward are being charged with 1 count of human trafficking,1 count of delivering a controlled substance to a person under 18, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and lewd and lascivious conduct on a person less than 16. If convicted, the four defendants face up to life in prison.
